Oak Grove Coburn High School - Oak Leaves Yearbook (Vassalboro, ME)

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OAK LEAVES 1943 WORK HOLIDAY One, two, three-heave --and a smug old rock reluctantly takes leave of Mother Earth. Another out, someone exclaims j ubilantly, but there ar-e acres of them still to comef' Not far from this scene comes the clatter of a lawn mower and the delicious odor of new mown grass, while a lusty yell reaches heaven from an earnest laborer besmudged with dirt as a new row of bricks is uncovered. In anoth-er direction future landscape gardeners are on their knees learning the difference between Witch grass andl choice perennials, while another gang merrily rolls the tennis courts. Pickaxes and shovels sing through the air to come down with a resounding ring on the impenetrable pile beneath. Then we climb aboard to ride singing to the new terrace which this loam is building. The big rid-e is on the return wh-en we clatter swiftly up the hill. This is Oak Grove's Work Holiday. The War has brought its shortage of labor here, too, and as spring ad- vanced we still saw befor-e us some of the foundations of old Bailey yet to be removed, gardens to be planted, riding trails to be cleared of little stones, lawns to be mowed and innumerable other projects waiting for the trained men who had long done it all so smoothly and unobtrusively. Some- where we got the idea of a Work Holiday and our Principals were joyfully swamped when the whole School volunteered. And that is one of the big ideas about our C.S.V. and S.S.V. projects of this year-everything is vol- untary. Of course our Principals held to their rule of first things first - meaning lessons, but w-e did have one session and got projects accepted for all our gymnasium classes, as each girl signed up for the project she knew most about or fancied most. Thus combining the joys of outdoor activity with the much needed labor, our Work Holiday has accomplished much more than its original purpose, as figures in slacks and dungarees, laden with their heavy artillery of brooms, rakes, spades and other such weapons scurry towards the chosen scenes of activity. In no time the volunteers are organized into orderly crews and the work begins. 'Tis a most delightful new feeling at the end of the day, arms sunburned, muscles deliciously weary and hands sometimes blistered, to gather at the Rendezvous where the prevailing odors of sizzling hot hamburgers bring joy to the appetites of the ravenous throng. As yet, we have had only two of these Work Holidays but on observing their overwhelming success, not only in doing our part for the war effort, but also in the new friendships that have grown out of the necessity of team- work and unity in all our projects, we look forward eagerly to many more, and hope Work Holidays may continue at Oak Grove long after there is any national emergency to call for them. 9

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OAK LEAVES 1943 INSPIRING COMMENCEMENT MESSAGE IS BROUGHT BY THE LOVELY WIFE OF MAINE'S BRILLIANT GOVER NOR SEWALL, WHO, WITH HIS GRACIOUS MOTHER ARE EVER WELCOME GUESTS. OAK GROVE'S NEW JUNIOR AIDES It was a thrilling day for us last winter when We discovered our Princi- pals had secured a chance for us to serve as Junior Nurse's Aids at the fine big hospital in Waterville-especially thrilling for some of us planning to major in medicine and its associated fields. It has given us an excellent chance to test our stamina under hospital conditions and get close to life there. We go at ten each Saturday and serve until late afternoon. The hospital is run by the Sisters of Charity and a lovely Sister, in her immac- ulate vvhite Winged cap, meets us and assigns us our tasks for the day. We may do filing, typing, serve as hostess, run the elevator, clean floors, assist in the laboratory, or even help in the X-ray department. One of the most coveted assignments is the Pediatric in a building of its own, Where our hearts have been touched as We have tried to bring comfort and cheer to many little children there. Of course We meet many inter-esting persons on th-e Staff and enjoy our luncheon. Everyone is friendly and the Sisters assure us so cordially that We are really helping a lot and this experience makes life so meaningful that we hope this opportunity for service may continue long after the present emergency. 10